A very large, lively Sunday night crowd gathered to hear readings from Noah, Matt Hart, Nick Sturm and musical performances from King Elk, The Judy Blooms, Henry Daggs, Speaking Suns. As it was, the evening bore further proof that the Gem City is still alive.

Hey, in light, let’s not kid ourselves, Dayton has seen better days. Nonetheless, if you dig deep beneath the mire, you’ll find a very pronounced glimmer. Tawdry as it may be, I feel Dayton’s art and music scene is analogous to the lo-fi masterworks of its sons in Guided By Voices. It may take repeated attempts, however, under the layers of mess, you’ll find undeniable gems. Some may give up and write it off and scoff and that is their loss. However, the privy patient will discover gifts that keep on giving.

Noah Falck releases his first book of poems, Snowmen Losing Weight, this Sunday, June 10 at Canal St. Tavern in Dayton, OH. He will be joined by a host of fellow poets and area musicians (see flier above).

Falck is an elementary school teacher in Northridge (the very small north Dayton hometown of Guided By Voices’ Bob Pollard). Along with a Pushcart Prize nomination, Noah’s poems have spread widely in journals such as Bat City Review, Boston Review, Columbia Poetry Review, Forklift Ohio, Greensboro Review, Gulf Coast, Kenyon Review, La Petite, and Smartish Pace.

Snowmen was selected by BatCat Press as part of their 2012 series. According to their website, “BatCat Press is fully staffed and operated by the students of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, PA. Submissions are accepted during our annual reading period and are selected by students with the help of members of the BatCat Press advisory board, a collection of writers, teachers, and administrators from across Western Pennsylvania.” Continue reading →